Hibs remain just four points above second-bottom Partick Thistle in the scrap to avoid a nerve-shredding play-off to
beat the drop. Hibs have won just one of their last 14 games and Butcher said: “Listen we’re in a scrap but I’m up for it. Bring it on as
far as I’m concerned.

“It tests your character and your mettle and that’s what we need to do. We have to make sure our character
is stronger than the other teams. Are my boys up for it? That remains to be seen. I hope they are.

“I have confidence in the players that we’ll get the points. A goal would be good. They get you points!

“The
form is not great but like good runs, bad runs have to come to an end. Confidence is very low, no doubt. Getting confidence back is about hard work in training.”

Delighted
Dons boss Derek McInnes hailed McGinn’s double as fit to win any game and insisted it proved exactly why he stuck by the striker during his goal drought.

The Ulsterman
went 16 games without finding the net before he scored against Dundee United a fortnight ago but McInnes had no fears over his form.

The
Dons gaffer said: “Niall’s goals were good enough to win any game. He’s
not the first forward to crave the goal that can make the difference to
him but we had to stand by him because he was working hard.

“We never doubted him or lost faith in him because he’s such an important player. We know the quality he’s capable of.”

Last night’s win moved Aberdeen three points clear of Motherwell in the race to finish second.

And the result gives them a boost going into Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi with St Johnstone.

McInnes
said: “We want to finish second, we want to get into Europe and if we can continue the form we’ve shown we’ll give ourselves a chance of doing
that.”